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Hollywood power couple Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen will make Emmy history this September as the first-ever joint recipients of the prestigious Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. The Television Academy announced Wednesday that the pair will be honored for their decades of extensive philanthropic work.
Danson and Steenburgen, who celebrate their 30th anniversary this October, have championed a wide array of causes. Danson, well-known for his role on “Cheers,” co-founded the American Oceans Campaign in 1987 to raise awareness about ocean pollution.
He also supports organizations like the ASPCA and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Steenburgen’s philanthropy includes work with Artists for a Free South Africa, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and No Kid Hungry.
Together, they co-founded Angels at Risk, which supports families impacted by substance abuse, and are vocal advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.
“Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen have long used their voices – and their hearts – to champion causes that uplift the planet and its people,” said Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego. “The Television Academy is proud to honor their extraordinary legacy of service.”
Beyond their humanitarian efforts, the couple boasts impressive acting careers. Danson is a two-time Emmy winner, and Steenburgen won an Academy Award for her role in the 1980 film “Melvin and Howard.”
They have also shared the screen in several productions, including “Gulliver’s Travels” and “It Must Be Love.” The couple met in the early 1980s and married in 1995.
They each have two children from previous marriages.